Ricker Hill Orchards has grown apples in Maine since the 1700s and has been in its current location in Turner since 1803. They sell apples and cider year-round directly to their local school district, SAD 52, and Bates College for special events. Their cider and apples are also sold to K-12 schools through Maine food distributors.
In addition to supplying local fruit and fruit products to students throughout the year, they also host hundreds of school tours, from first graders, who often remark on the overwhelming number of apples, to high schoolers, who ask detailed questions about their bottling facility.
The orchard has diversified over the years. They began supplying apples to Hannaford in 1928, and their apples are also in Shaw’s. They make carbonated cider and hard cider and host events, including fireworks displays, craft fairs, fall family events, and weddings.
Ricker Hill recently received funds from the Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program. Their project will expand processing capabilities for their operation and for other Maine fruit producers.
To learn more about Maine’s Local Foods Procurement Program and how to increase farm-to-institution sales, contact Brittany Peats, Maine DACF Institutional Market Development Coordinator, at brittany.peats@maine.gov.
